Two Israeli women in their 20s were killed in a terrorist attack on Friday while driving in the northern Jodan Valley. Another woman, who is believed to be in her 40s, was in serious condition. The two dead victims were sisters from Efrat, in Gush Etzion. The other passenger, who was evacuated to a hospital after being stabilized, is their mother.
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The three passengers' bullet-ridden car was found just before noon. Only after it became apparent that they had undergone an attack rather than got injured in a car accident did the IDF begin a manhunt for the perpetrators.
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First responders pronounced the two fatalities just minutes after they were found. It is believed the attackers deliberately waited for the victims' vehicle or caused it to crash, after which they sprayed bullets on the windshield and possibly later came to shoot more bullets to make sure they would die.
United Hatzalah emergency medical volunteers responded to a shooting incident that took place near Hamra in the Jordan Valley. United Hatzalah regional paramedic Oded Shabbat, who was one of the first responders at the scene said: "When I arrived I found three people who were in critical condition. Together with other first responders, I performed CPR on the injured in an attempt to save their lives. One injured person was transported by helicopter to the hospital for further care."
The attack comes on the heels of a major escalation between Israel and the Palestinians both in Gaza and in the West Bank, during the sensitive time of the Holy Month of Ramadan and Passover.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service said that when it arrived at the scene it found a wrecked Israeli vehicle with the three women as well as a ditched Palestinian vehicle.
Gush Etzion Regional Council Chairman and Yesha Council Head Shlomo Ne'eman's issued a response to the deadly Jordan Valley terrorist shooting attack. "In the face of terrorism, we have to put aside our differences and act with an iron fist," he said. Ne'eman added "A terrible terrorist attack took place today, on Passover, in the Jordan Valley. Despicable and heartless people murdered young women on their way to celebrate the holiday. Our only enemy is terror which raises its head and must be eliminated. The terrorists must be caught and not left alive.
"It is time to stop with these defensive policies and go on the offensive. Only heavy-handed actions against the enemy and the continued construction and development of Jewish communities will restore peace to the region. No terror will cause us to surrender, we will continue to live and thrive in the land of our ancestors. We send our condolences to the families and send our best wishes for a complete recovery to the person injured in the attack."
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